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US trade talks should not cover culture, EU says
26-Apr-2013 Reuters
European Union lawmakers have backed French demands to exempt culture from a proposed free-trade pact between Europe and the United States, keeping Paris on side and raising the chances that the talks can start on time.
Thailand: Four sensitive issues studied ahead of FTA talks with EU
26-Apr-2013 The Nation
The sensitive issues for Thailand are: the impact of the EU’s plan to end Thailand’s eligibility for the Generalised System of Preferences next year; intellectual-property rights; tariff reductions on alcoholic beverages and cigarettes; and dispute-settlement mechanisms between government and private enterprises.
Investors’ IP rights unbound: The danger of investment clauses to access to medicines
25-Apr-2013 Infojustice
Although access to medicines activists have been wise to focus our attention intently on convincing low- and middle-income countries to adopt and use all possible TRIPS-compliant flexibilities and to oppose the TRIPS-plus IP chapters in free trade agreements, we have neglected to interrogate another chapter in free trade agreements and bilateral investment treaties that perhaps pose an even greater threat to our collective access to medicines – investment chapters.
Date set for talks on Asia-Pacific free trade zone
25-Apr-2013 DW
China and 15 other Asia-Pacific nations have agreed to launch a first round of talks next month aimed at creating one of the world’s largest trading blocs. China is trying to outpace a similar effort by the US.
Brazil admits postponing free trade with Argentina
25-Apr-2013 Folha de S.Paulo
The Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Commerce, Fernando Pimentel, suggested that Brazil could postpone the date the auto parts and automobile free trade agreement between Brazil and Argentina will become effective - the scheduled date is July.
EU lawmakers support free trade deal with US
25-Apr-2013 AP
European Union lawmakers have voted in favor of starting talks on a wide-ranging free trade agreement with the United States.
New Zealand to ratify free trade agreement with the GCC
25-Apr-2013 Gulf Newws
The New Zealand government is likely to ratify a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states within 12 months, a senior official said.
NZ-China agricultural agreement signed
25-Apr-2013 Sunlive
NZ Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has signed a Strategic Plan on Promoting Agricultural Cooperation between New Zealand and China.
The return of ACTA: US dictating Canada’s intellectual property laws
25-Apr-2013 Be Your Own Leader
Many assumed that ACTA was dead, but it still remains a top priority for the U.S. and they are attempting to revive the discredited agreement by trying to get the six necessary ratifications for it to come into force.
Japan’s rice lobby visits Capitol Hill to fight free trade pact
25-Apr-2013 Washington Post
Rice is a staple food in Japan, but it is also a cultural staple — so much so, say opponents of a 12-nation­ free-trade agreement, that the values learned through rice farming keep the streets of Tokyo safe and the nation stable.
ASEAN plans free trade pact with Hong Kong
23-Apr-2013 Business Recorder
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will pursue a free trade agreement with Hong Kong, a document obtained by AFP said Tuesday.
Indonesia to kick off CEPA talks with Chile
22-Apr-2013 Jakarta Post
Indonesia has agreed to begin talks on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with Chile, hoping to use the nation as a trade hub in South America.
South Korea and Indonesia plan to ratify trade pact
22-Apr-2013 Jakarta Globe
A major agreement aimed at boosting trade and investment ties between South Korea and Indonesia may be ratified before the end of this year, industry minister M.S. Hidayat said in Jakarta on Friday.
Trans-Pacific tariff talks expand to include Japan
22-Apr-2013 Bloomberg
Japan will be admitted to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade talks, the existing 11 members of the negotiations said in a statement issued at the weekend after a meeting in Indonesia.
Despite promising start, Taiwan misses free trade deals
22-Apr-2013 Forbes
The island known for moving big batches of electronics to world markets is struggling to keep a toehold in Asia politically and economically against rivals that make the same stuff and have more trade deals, writes the business magazine Forbes
EU free-trade car ’quota’ buzz has makers in a tizzy
22-Apr-2013 DNA
India’s passenger vehicle industry is in a tizzy over the import quota proposed in the free trade agreement between India and the European Union.
Between China and America? Real choices facing Indonesia
22-Apr-2013 Jakarta Globe
Are the RCEP and TPP really competing for members and agenda items?
Relase IPA Activists that demand to stop trade liberalization!
22-Apr-2013
Indonesian Police Dept in Surabaya is arrested IPA activists that hold a picket to oppose APEC Trade Minister meeting (20-21 April) and trade liberalizations agenda.
APEC pushes FTAs in shift toward regional initiative
22-Apr-2013 Japan Times
The trade ministers of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum agreed Sunday to promote free-trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region just a day after Japan won permission to negotiate a free-trade pact involving many of its members.
India-EU FTA: A lose-lose for India
22-Apr-2013 NewsClick
Newsclick discusses with Biswajit Dhar, Director General of Research and Information System for Developing Countries, the India-EU Free Trade Agreement and its fall-outs.